The constant BOOM BOOM BOOM from cars

Is this driving anyone else crazy? Ever since they created the new Bluffton Parkway. I can barely stand to live in my neighborhhod anymore. It is all day and all night. I am not talking about the normal sounds a car makes or even having the radio playing loud. I am talking about the bass coming from cars. Blaring out of the window. Is there anything we can do? Can the cops write a ticket for this? Isn't it a noise violation. Seriously. Shouldn't noise above a certain decibel be a finable offense in a community? If it's not it should be.

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Skyler & SVT: VERY true! As I said earlier, some of us have actually followed people to their homes that we see speeding down our street (although you have to be going pretty fast for us to do that). There were SEVERAL people that we targeted because they were doing this on a daily basis, and, after one of our neighbor's little girl was run off the road on her bike by one of them, we started jumping in our cars and following people.
-A lot of the people we followed lived right here in Pinecrest (around the corner on Pinecrest Circle). However, most came from the Farm and Pine Ridge - with several others not living anywhere near here but were just in a hurry getting to and from the school complex.
So yes, be careful what you wish for is right. However, speeding is speeding no matter who is doing it. If half the people ticketed live right here in Pinecrest, I couldn't care less - as long as it slows them down.
As for myself, I'm not worried about getting a ticket. I do the speed limit in our neighborhood on purpose, just to tick people off. I especially like it when I'm leaving for work in the morning and when I'm coming home in the afternoon (when traffic is busy). I get this long line of cars behind me, with the person directly behind me usually flipping me off or honking his/her horn. I've actually had mothers (with their children in the car) PASS me in our neighborhood, because they were in such a hurry to get to school (usually giving me the bird, with their children watching of course). In the evening when I come home from work, if I get a bunch of cars on my butt I'll drive down the entire length of our street (purposly passing my house) doing 20mph, all the way from the Parkway to McCracken. -Man, do I get some [filtered word] off reactions! -Do people not see our speed limit signs, or what?

-I always thought this was the "slow" country. Why is everbody in such a hurry all of a sudden? I know what it's like to be in a hurry - I lived in Chicago for cryin' out loud. But, this isn't Chicago, NY, or NJ.......it's Bluffton.
I moved here to slow down my life..........am I the only one from up north that did that?

The speed limit here in Woodbridge is 20 (not 25). I drive about 18 when I have people in a hurry behind me. And my neighbors do the same thing, we take plates and follow folks. I've ratted out some pizza delivery guys and called the bus company to get the school busses to stop doing 40 in my hood.

One Halloween we had a speedracer in a BMW Z come flying up the road. He nearly got stoned by a gang of mothers who forced him to stop and they were all yelling at him.

And yes, we have our share of neighbors who fly through the neighborhood. They're usually moms with big hulking SUV's.

The speed limit here in Woodbridge is 20 (not 25). I drive about 18 when I have people in a hurry behind me. And my neighbors do the same thing, we take plates and follow folks. I've ratted out some pizza delivery guys and called the bus company to get the school busses to stop doing 40 in my hood.

One Halloween we had a speedracer in a BMW Z come flying up the road. He nearly got stoned by a gang of mothers who forced him to stop and they were all yelling at him.

And yes, we have our share of neighbors who fly through the neighborhood. They're usually moms with big hulking SUV's.

I know what you mean about the school busses! We've contacted the school and First Student.........it doesn't do a bit of good. -They still drive like idiots (and these idiots are carrying our children).

Look, I'm not the slowest person on the road at times. I mean c'mon.................I own a car that puts out nearly 600HP, only weighs 2300 lbs, and can go from 0 to 60 in the blink of a [filtered word] (which is under 3 seconds according to my watch).

But, what I think we're talking about here is, people acting selfishly & inconsiderate - pure and simple. -Whether it's speeding OR their stereo's.
There is no "need" for people to cut through Pinecrest when they can easily use Masters Way. -But they do it anyway.
There is no "need" for people to drive like idiots in our neighborhood. -But they do because they're in a hurry.
There is no "need" for kids to crank up their stereo's, especially in subdivisions where people may be sleeping or trying to relax in their homes. -But they do it anyway.

This all boils down to lack of respect, and just plain selfishness.

I also know what you mean about your "gang of mothers" that forced a car to stop. When I mentioned to the Chief earlier about things "getting ugly" around here, that's what I meant. I've seen my neighbors here (usually parents with small children playing near by) going after speeding cars with rakes, coke cans, golf balls, tennis balls,.....usually whatever they can get their hands on in a hurry. -Some people have actually connected.
Talk about your "road rage" all you want, but that's nothing compared to a ticked off parent that just witnessed someone doing 50mph down their (what is supposed to be) "calm" street.

Believe me, we've just about seen it ALL here. A few weeks ago, a bunch of us were out having a few drinks in a neighbors garage, when all of a sudden, we hear this car coming. It was at night (pitch black out) and we all started looking for this car (it was LOUD). Out of nowhere, this idiot with NO LIGHTS ON, came racing down our street, at what must have been 70-80 mph, weaving in and around parked cars on the road. He got up towards our main entry (that goes out to the Parkway) where our street curves slightly, and nearly lost control of the vehicle - which would have put him into someones house.
We all jst looked at eachother and shook our heads.
-I mean.........what do you do when people are THAT stupid?
If someone would have been pulling out of their driveway at that time, they would have been killed - no doubt about it.

One of our neighbors lost their pet to a speeding car (who, instead of stopping, fled the neighborhood).......but that was just a "pet".
As someone mentioned earlier, I think it's going to take a child getting hit before some of these idiots get a clue. -There's just too much selfishness around here. It's all about "ME first"......"I'm in a hurry"........"and I don't care if that disturbs you or your neighborhood".
-These are just inconsiderate people - period.

Someones kid is going to be chasing a basketball down their driveway, or riding their bike down the street, and one of these idiots is going to hit them.

Do we get to say "I told you so" ? -A lot of good that will do THEN.....

Poor Woodbridge is being torn up by some idiot (or maybe a group of idiots) who think it's fun to tear up the grass alongside our neighborhood roads. Driving into Woodbridge you can see the "scars" every 20 or so feet all along the common areas where once-pristine grass used to be.

This looks like a helpful site. Maybe we can propose a law that wood make it illegal to have music or bass above or below a certain decibel. Let's vote on it. I'm sure the morons with the boom boom cars aren't going to show up to vote for anything.

EAST CHICAGO | The message was loud and clear: drivers who won't turn down the stereo can have their cars impounded by police.

An amendment to the city's 1997 noise ordinance approved by the City Council on Monday night provides for the seizure of "public nuisance" vehicles at the discretion of responding officers.

Any vehicle in public with the output of its sound system plainly audible 50 feet or more away in any direction would be in violation of the new law.

The measure provides for a maximum fine of $2,500 per ticket, not including the expense of towing, impoundment and storage of the vehicle, which would add another $100 to $200, depending on the length of time before the vehicle is retrieved.

"This came out of a community meeting," said Adrian Santos, D-1st, sponsor of the ordinance. "Residents asked for it." Approval of the windfall for city towing firms was not without debate.

Councilwoman Chinita Lindsay, D-3rd, suggested less-harsh penalties for first-time offenders. Jesse Gomez, D-at large, contrasted the amendment with a similar law in neighboring Hammond, which defines "nuisance" noise based on measurable decibel levels factored against a vehicle's speed.

"Isn't this a little more supportive to take to court with you than a policeman's ears?" Gomez asked.

But people who live in the city know when the music's too loud, said Christine Vasquez, D-4th, and people who are driving the nuisance cars need to be stopped.

"As a police officer, I know the importance of having additional authority to enforce the law," said Council President Richard Medina, D-at large. "The only way you can stop an adult is to hit them in the pocketbook."

Santos said he met with Police Chief Angelo Machuca Jr., who said he had no problem with the new law.

"He said as soon as the mayor puts his signature on it, he will begin enforcing it," Santos said.

Spencer: I don't think BB guns are covered in our neighborhood guidlines / covenants. I'm not sure if there is a Town law concerning BB guns or not. -Perhaps the Chief can chime in here?

I would think it would be OK under certain circumstances (only shooting targets; shooting away from homes; etc.) and leave it to parents discretion,...... but since our homes are so close together, perhaps not. Perhaps "parents supervision" should be required at all times.

However, I know that I'm about ready to BUY a BB gun myself, due to our neighbors 2 dogs. I've just about had it (along with our neighbors that live within 6-8 homes on either side of her) with their barking VERY early in the mornings, as well as VERY late at night.
-Talking to them doesn't seem to help, so maybe a shot in the dogs butt will do the trick.

Hey.......it might come in handy with the speeders and boom-box cars going thru the neighborhood too! ;-) (Just kidding Chief).
Actually, some of us have discussed purchasing a few paint-ball guns. BB guns would do too much damage (although not as much damage as the golf balls I've seen thrown). But, I would think if someone had to go home and wash their car after flying thru Pinecrest, they might think twice about doing it the next day.

If I were you I would contact Coleen @ Allied. If you have kids shooting up your house (or whatever it is), she should hear about it. I'm sure, at the very least, she could send them a letter.

Most private developments' roads are owned and maintained by the HOA and NOT the county or town. That's why private developments are such "cash cows" for the county; they don't have to maintain roads, the private community has their own amenities (the county doesn't have to build more parks/recreation), and most have their own security (less police patrolling). Our taxes would go through the roof if the county started taking over roads. They can hardly maintain what they have at the moment.

I cut through Pine Ridge once, but it was only to determine how long it took to get from 46 to the Bluffton Parkway. It actually takes more time and wear & tear on your car. I can actually get to the PC Bluffton Pkwy entrance faster by going down Buckwalter and turning at the Hampton Hall light and you usually don't have to stop.

The people that cut through Pine Crest are idiots; it takes more time and there is more braking & stopping involved. It's also disrespectful to those who live in PC.

They're not shooting up the house....yet! I just want to be informed if it becomes an issue. I feel for you about the dogs - I know how annoying that can be. It just amazes me how inconsiderate some neighbors can be.

Maybe the Chief will come aboard today and chime in on the BB guns. Thanks.

Sanddollar: Yes, you are correct about "private" developments (ala GATED communities) having to maintain their own roads. -That's one of the reason their POA fees are so high.
But, Pinecrest ISN'T a gated community...........however the county told us we had to pay to maintain our own roads anyway.

Pinecrest (and Pine Ridge) was being developed during the (I would say) "early to mid" stages of the housing boom here. We moved into Pinecrest pretty early on (1st phase) and was here about a year or so when our builder (Centex) was contacted by the county and told that they (the county) were tired of all the "new development" taking place and had decided they couldn't afford to pay to maintain our streets (even though that's one reason we pay county taxes!). They also informed Centex that they wouldn't be maintaining the roads in Pine Ridge either (Centex was just starting Pine Ridge at that time). How the county could do this AFTER the development agreement was already completed, is beyond me............but they did it anyway. We homeowners were informed by Centex that they would battle the county on this matter...........but Centex never did anything (that I'm aware of), and we are, to this day, STILL responsible for maintaining our streets.
Shortly after this time frame, the County (and probably the Town as well) began charging builders a "impact fee" for road maintenance. I think it started out as $900.00 per lot, but I believe it has gone up since then. I assumed that meant they were going to start maintaining streets in non-gated comminities again, for all new developments from that moment on (and I believe they do). -But that left us and Pine Ridge in this "loop-hole" of being among the only "non-gated" communities that have to pay to maintain their streets thru their POA fees (there may be more, possibly the Farm, but I'm not aware of any).
If there ARE other communities, it doesn't really matter. No other community has the issue we have as being a "cut thru" to and from the Parkway and the school complex. My beef is, if they (the Town or County) want to continue to allow this much traffic to travel thru our neighborhood everyday, they better think twice about WHO is going to be responsible for maintaing the roads. Either that, or allow us to change our PUD and become gated. -One or the other.

I sometimes have the same problem with my dogs who try to out bark the neighbors dogs. I don't have close neighbors at all, but I understand it can be annoying so I have become very aware of when thye start to immediately call them in, even if it's only 1 in the aftenoon.

Maybe, since talking to them does not matter, Matty could "hook you up" with some sound you could play that would shut them up, or maybe everyone could just start calling them repeatedly when their dogs are barking regardless of the time politely saying 'Your dogs are barking".

its not the freeway, so cars aren't gonna save that many seconds. People charge up on red lights all the time on 278. Brake mechanics and arabs might love 'em. Didn't you see the light is RED? Where are you going to go?

somebody forgot to say this week is "I hate juveniles week"

took a while for school buses to get mentioned, making me jump to------this is all about something that bothers you, not how can we change the behavior, make righteous, justice, the holy land, saviour, our lord. I mean if someone is gonna bring roosters into this, u think religion would come in sooner. next the birds is singing too loud, throw that crying baby off the plane.

cobraguy can't be a conservative on every issue, not even in the "blink of a [filtered word]". How does this "ugly" compare to Chicago's "ugly". There has got to be a rent a cop biz that will accept cobraguys money to privately secure his hood.

If u want justice, righteousness, there aren't any quotas period. Regarding tickets. There is an old saying, BEWARE OF PLUMBERS, POLICEMEN, AND PRIESTS. Nothing against the Chief of Bluffton except maybe he is like the new majority around here>>>>>>>U DIDN'T GROW UP HERE, U AIN'T FROM HERE.

The police protect one from having to take weapons with them when they leave their house. That's about it. When u go driving, walking, running, rollerblading, riding a motor skooter... the person that protects you is YOU and if you are little, your parent.

Ok -- I really dont understand the last post from pearljamfan -- huh? As for BB guns - no ordinance except if it damages property or injures a person. As for traffic -- the traffic team was in Pinecrest at your request today -- hopfully you saw them and you notice some results.

Also - Cobraguy - I am far from an expert but I think road impact fee was to build and maintain roads like the parkway (Bluffton and Buckwalter) not to maintain neighborhood streets. That being said -- you have a valid point about down the road maintenance.

Finally - if you throw golf balls or shoot paintball guns at cars whether speeding or not -- you can be charged criminally for that act. The better course is to ID the driver and get the tag. That being said -- drive carefully everybody!!!

to make it any clearer. no effect either way of understanding. just say its more complicated than calling a lawyer to take a crap kind of stupidity that some police do. stupidity not related to the misbehaving of the police. that is a major effect. understand that?

Chief McAllister: I had a short work day today so I was home quite a bit, and YES, I did notice the officers. -Thank you. I watched for awhile after I got home and your guys were VERY busy, to say the least. In fact, I think they had to relax the 5mph over rule after awhile because they probably felt like they could have pulled EVERYBODY over at one point this afternoon. -Excellent work guys.

I woke up this morning and saw someone pulled over in front of my house. When I left for work, an officer had someone pulled over as I drove past. I got off today early in the afternoon and came home to find more officers on the street, and again, they had people pulled over.
-Looks like you guys had a busy day!
A neighbor and I started talking to one of your guys, and during the conversation, he had to stop talking to us to pull someone over. -He pulled 3 cars over in the 10 minutes we were outside.
When he initially started speaking with us the first thing he did was smile and said "this isn't even fair". He indicated that he could sit there and pull practically every car over that drives down our street. He also mentioned that quite a few of the people pulled over were from right here in Pinecrest (mostly from the back of the neighborhood), but that a lot of the cars are from other neighborhoods cutting thru.
Later, a different officer pulled a car over in front of my house and the driver was an illegal alien. I was out in my garage at the time and heard most of the conversation. No divers license, no insurance, and gave the officer a fake ID. He asked if they knew anyone with a legit license that could come and get them, but they said "no". I was surprised (and disappointed) to see that he let the person drive away (in a brand new Nissan 350Z by the way. -You sure can buy nice cars when you don't pay taxes).
I understand this is a Federal issue, but we really need to strengthen our local laws, and build larger holding facilities so we can do something about this on a local level. Our area is FLOODED with illegals and it's only getting worse - mostly because we do nothing to stop it. Other municipalities around the country are finally starting to do something, and most have been very successful. Beaufort County has always said they were waiting to see what other areas of the country did, and how their bills / laws held up in court. There are now literally hundreds of successful examples on the books accross the country (including our neighbors in GA) that Bluffton and BC could look at and emulate...........but we choose not to.
-I just don't get it.
BTW: I saw that same 350Z drive back thru our neighborhood in the opposite direction about 3 hrs later (during the 5 o'clock rush), and they must have been doing 35mph - at least.

That reminds me.............we were disappointed we didn't see any of you guys for the after-work rush hour! We had plenty of speeders flying thru here between 4:30 and 6:00 (as we always do) and we never saw any officers. Did the morning and afternoon shifts use up all the tickets? ;-)

In your last post you said to report the people that continue to speed. -That would be a big list!
The blogs probably aren't the best place to do this (and I'm sure you would rather we reported it to the station) but here are a couple that absolutely FLY thru our neighborhood EVERY SINGLE DAY, at least twice a day. -We're talking 45-50 mph easy. These are 3 that we've followed home (they live in Pine Ridge) and wouldn't speak with us, so we left notes tied to their mailboxes asking them to slow down. -They refuse to.
Perhaps if they hear from you, or see this blog, they will find another route to get to the Parkway (like Masters Way) where they can legally drive a little faster than the 20mph posted in Pinecrest.
1. White Honda Tag# 729-BEE
2. Red Firebird Tag# 386-VWG (this guy really drives like an idiot)
3. Blue & White Ford Bronco Tag# AWY-2486 (this guy PASSED my wife in our neighborhood a few weeks back, and had the guts to honk his horn while doing so). -He still flys thru here everyday.

Take care Chief, and thanks for the help. I spoke to several neighbors today that noticed what was going on and they are ALL very appreciative.

I didn't see any police when I got home yesterday and was also disappointed. That is a very crucial time. But, this morning when I left for work at 6:45, saw an officer had already gotten a speeder. Great job - perhaps if this is kept up for a week, the speeders will find that speeding is not tollerated.

Just read Cobraguy's post about the officer stopping the illegal and then allowing him to drive away???? Now wait a minute, how could an officer have allowed an illegal with no driver's license to drive away? I would like your comment on that please Chief? Allowing someone without a license to drive - doesn't sound right to me. If thar jerk had hit someone and it was found out that an officer let him drive - the liability for your PD would be awesome.

it may be against the law to follow people for speeding, unless you are the police, and trying to get them to speak to you? Unbelievable. There are stalking laws on the books. See what happens if cobraguy comes on my property following his mistakingly wrong speeding car (I don't speed) and see what the hell happens on my property. The cops won't be called.

20 mph in a whole neighborhood, sounds like it could be on the low side. what they probably need is 25 or 30 sign posted at the front for the whole than say unless otherwise posted. then on the curves you put 15 but sounds like they are short on cash. cobraguy u paid your dues?

PJ: I've read several of your post in the past and have come to the conclusion that, I don't want whatever it is you're smokin'.

First of all, you obviously don't have a clue to what "stalking" is. -Look it up buddy.

Secondly, the few cars that people in our neighborhood have followed, for the most part, did something out of the ordinary to warrant following. Excessive speeding (45+) on a daily basis; one car drove up on a neighbors lawn to go around someone that they felt was taking too long to turn into their driveway; one car passed my wife in our neighborhood (because she was going the speed limit); another car got so close to a child riding her bike that the girl rode up onto a neighbors lawn and fell onto the driveway; etc.
Nobody goes onto anyones property PJ (at least that I know of). I know the few people that I've followed home (at least the adults) usually get out of their car and are very apologetic - which tells me that they KNEW why I followed them, and were admitting to wrong doing. A couple of them just whip in their driveways, pull into the garage, and close the garage door and hide (which also tells me that they knew they were doing something wrong). Several of the cars we've followed were teens and (at least the kids I personally followed) I ended up speaking to their parents by going back to the house at a later date (weekend) and knocking on the door (so yes, I was on the property then).

You say you don't speed PJ, and that's good. -We have no beef then. But why be a smart a$$ about it?
Recklessly pass my wife while going thru our neighborhood, and we have a problem. Drive up on my lawn while passing my neighbor pulling into their driveway, and see what happens. Knock my neighbors little girl off her bike and speed away, and you'll be lucky if her Marine father doesn't pull you out of your car and kick your butt.

The answer here isn't to raise the speed limit in a quiet, residential community full of small children, just so people can drive faster PJ. -The answer is, inconsiderate morons need to wise up, obey the law, and realize that they are going to kill someone in here if they don't slow down. Better yet, if you don't live in Pinecrest, then find another route to take to the school and to the Parkway. -Then you never have to worry about any of this.

Spenceramber: About the illegal alien, again, I believe this falls under Officer discretion. I've talked to several of our police officers in the area (Bluffton PD and Sheriff) and they have all told me the same thing: sometimes they arrest them, and sometimes they let them go. -I think it depends on what the situation was.
Speeding, I guess, isn't a big deal (this person was "only" doing 13 over). Perhaps if they were going faster they would have been arrested. Problem is, if you arrest them, you don't have anywhere to hold them, so you HAVE to let them go. -Then they simply don't show up for the court date and they're back on the street doing it again.

There was a woman on McCracken (near the HS) who was rearended by an illegal several weeks back. From what I understand, the officer allowed that person to call a friend (with a license) to come and drive him home. -The illegal never showed up for his court date, and I'm sure is back out on our streets behind the wheel of a car.
A few weeks back, there were several police cars lined up along the Parkway pulling people over (checking for DUI). According to a friend of mine (who is in law enforcement here) they arrested SEVERAL illegal aliens that night. However, all they do is hold them overnight and let them go the next day. They simply don't have anywhere to hold them until ICE can get around to picking them up.

It's a screwed up system, and we really need to do something about it here before we loose our Town to illegal aliens. -I've seen that happen to many suburbs in Chicago, and believe me, it ain't pretty.

I just don't see anything changing here as long as the current local elected officials are in office. For many, it's in their business interest to keep illegals here, so they just don't give a damn.
Will the sake of their Town, and the pleading of their constituents ever out weigh their business interest? -You'll have to ask them.

you'll find great minds and also remedial intellect everywhere. It seems the remedials are abundant. I'm not moving any time soon, though if I find the right roof you never know.

now instead of the car getting to close, its knocking her off the bike.

get a video camera stick it on your dash, that way, people can get a better IDEA of what your doing in these pursuits, such as STALKING, FRIENDLINESS, SHOUTING, ACCUSATORY, MEDIATING, ADVERSARIAL. One day you might come across someone who just committed a crime. They decide to put a few rounds your way, you'll forget all about green grass next to a driveway. Remember it only takes one real nut for you not to have the capacity to do your daily activities, going to work, tending the house. Would you pursue these people in the nightime? Here is one fact, maybe not a strong fact, but a fact.. I am smarter than people who die without their seatbelt on. Depending upon how I feel in the morning maybe I value my life and/or I don't want to go through the health care racket. May your fate in the rest of '08 be safe and healthy. I find it peculiar that a whole neighborhood would be at 20 mph and nothing higher or lower. What that would normally tell me is at worst conditions: the most dangerous part of the road, the worst traffic count, worst weather....THAT IS WHAT THE 20 IS SET TO. I want to see if the police can keep it 20 or below in that neighborhood WITH THE BRAKES ON.
You could keep up on a bicycle if there is no speeding.

You are probably right Cobra - there goes that "officer discretion" again. I just have a major problem if it is illegal to drive without a license that the officer would let the illegal drive away. Wow, I can't believe that couldn't be fought in a court of law if they hit and injured or killed someone and it was found out that an officer just let them drive away.

I guess that's off the subject though - I was tickled this morning to see the flashing blue lights on Pinecrest Drive.

I too am upset about the illegals getting pulled with no license and being let go, but no insurance too? I can help but wonder if that happened to me would the same rules apply? I'm happy to see Tanner trying to take some sort of stance and make progress on the issue. I was reading yesterday where Manassas Va is now enforcing immigration laws, even for minor traffic violations. The illegals are moving from there, into Maryland.

Several years ago (probably 20-22) my license was suspended. I got a ticket while driving out of state and never paid it.........so my license was suspended and I never knew it. I got pulled over one day in my home state, and found out the hard way that it was suspended. The officer cuffed me, put me in the back of his patrol car, and took me in. They also towed my car (and scratched the snot out of it!).
I (unlike illegal aliens) showed up for my court date, and that little incident cost me about $1500.00 total, if I remember right.

I'm an American citizen, had a drivers license (but was suspended), and I had insurance. Even though my license was suspended, I at least HAD a license - which proves that I once took all the necessary driving / reading tests that are needed to obtain driving privileges.
-Most illegals couldn't pass a driving test to save their life!

Yet, most illegals are released and end up back on our streets with little, or no, punishment at all.

It does'nt matter where you are from, if you don't have a valid license you can not drive, period. I find it hard to believe ANY officer would allow an unlicensed individual from anywhere to drive. The dept liability in such action is astronomical. That is BTW Cobraguy the reason you were arrested while license under suspension, you simply can not drive while suspended and you were not insured. No insurance company will pay a claim where the driver was driving under suspension.

I don't care where they put them - in a tent city or hanging from a barbed wire fence - just get them off the road. I wish the Chief would chime in and let us know what the policy of the Bluffton PD is.

Illegal immigrants have it made! Pay no taxes, drive without a license, no need for insurance, free healthcare, free education, and commit whatever crimes you want. What reason do they have to leave = 0

sad part is NOTHING happens to them even if they hit you with no insurance since we are required to have uninsured motorists in SC, that covers it all and you pay that deductible. I know from recent experience. NOTHING HAPPENS.So what if they have to fill out the evidence of insurance green form. Mine came back as they were uninsured (big news). All they do is drive anyway or get new

Ok Ok Let me address the urban legend of an illegal driver being allowed to drive off. Not true!! We wrote 18 citations yesterday in Pinecrest -- only one car above 30 mph. One driver -- not hispanic -- has a suspended license. It was suspended for no insurance issues which you do not take people to jail for because there are so many problems with reporting -- example you switch companies -- SC frequently will suspend your license even though you have insurance due to a lag in paperwork. Subject had another licensed driver in the car and they were allowed to proceed with the other driver operating the car. Another driver had no SC DL and was allowed to have a licensed driver take him away. In no case can an unlicensed driver drive off operating a car -- period. We do frequently allow drivers to get a licensed driver to come get cars -- that goes for all people. Finally -- we do not typically transport people who are charged with first offense driving with a SC license to jail -- no matter their race or nationality. We reserve that for second offense or driving with a suspended license which other than insurance issues -- requires jail. Notice that our policies and SOP's are set and metted out equally and until the federal government gives local jurisdiction some authority that we do not currently have -- illegal or legal does not factor in the decision. I too suport Sherriff Tanner efforts but they are along way from fruition.

Finally -- in the first sentence you will note that I called this story -- like several others before it -- an urban legend. That is because I get told this story all the time about the illegals and how they are allowed to drive away etc. etc. etc. In each case we look into it because I take allegations of misconduct seriously and in each case it is not true -- it is a urban legend that will not die. Again - I will give my number 227-0070 to anyone who has questions or comments regarding BPD's policy. I encourage contact and welcome suggestions.

That is not the policy of quite a few other cities or towns in this state.You will go to the jail for no insurace or license,period.Insurance companies have even made it easier to see weather or not a driver is covered. Doesn't matter to me one way or another but a lot of it probably has to do with the distance to the county jail.You don't have the manpower to transport someone to Beaufort 10 times a day.
And for those that don't want to believe that illegals use numerous names and disappear under a new one when needed need to get their heads out of the clouds.You can even have quite a few working under the SS number ,it doesn't matter what name they use.Happens all the time in construction.

Chief: First allow me to apologize for any misinformation. I didn't mean to start a firestorm here about officer's discretion when it comes to illegal aliens.

Secondly for PB: I'm always amazed at the moments that you choose to finally chime-in on a blog. Is it coincidence that it was an opportune time to bash someone you love disagreeing with? -I think not.

The conversation that I overheard happened directly in front of me. In fact, the person that was pulled over, pulled over in my driveway, so it wasn't like I was hanging my head out the door in order to listen. I was working in my garage and the conversation took place in front of me. -In fact, I was a little embarrassed that I was hearing so much of it, that I walked into my house after awhile.

The person that was pulled over in my driveway looked Hispanic, so perhaps it's not the same person that the Chief is talking about in his last post (maybe this person didn't recieve a citation). However, I know this person gave the Officer a fake ID. -I know this because I clearly heard the Officer tell them that he KNEW the ID was fake, and that he wanted to make sure that THEY knew, that he knew it was a phoney. This person did have someone else in their car but I heard the Officer ask them if they had a license and it sounded to me as if they said "no". At that time the officer asked if they knew anyone with a license and I couldn't hear all of the back-n-forth conversation after that (which is when I went in the house).
Not long after that, I heard the car start up and watched it drive away, with the Officer still parked in the street. Not sure if any citations were given, nor am I positive that the same person that was driving the car originally, was driving the car when it left. However, I never saw anyone get dropped off in front of my house to switch places with the driver, and (as I said earlier) I saw the same car drive by about 3 hrs later, and it looked like the same driver to me.

This also doesn't change the fact that most illegals go unpunished around here. What about all the illegals that were pulled over a few weeks back on the Parkway during the DUI sting? According to the officer I know, they couldn't hold them. They end up recieving court dates.......court dates that they never show up for.
-Are you trying to tell me that these people aren't behind the wheel of a car today?

No, CG. Give ME a break. You continually post stuff that may or may not be true, and this time you're busted. By the Chief. Here's what you said: Later, a different officer pulled a car over in front of my house and the driver was an illegal alien. I was out in my garage at the time and heard most of the conversation. No divers license, no insurance, and gave the officer a fake ID. He asked if they knew anyone with a legit license that could come and get them, but they said "no". I was surprised (and disappointed) to see that he let the person drive away (in a brand new Nissan 350Z by the way. -You sure can buy nice cars when you don't pay taxes).

Now, the Chief of Police, your neighbor, says it didn't happen. Says it's an urban myth. Are we to believe a professional whose job is on the line when he posts, because he speaks as a fact-based professional and identifies himself, or you, who makes a habit of popping off and not substantiating anything?

IMO there is too much anecdotal stuff used when people argue their point of view. I've called you on it before, and I will call you on it again. You took this blog from some reasonable complaints, on which you received action and moved into a whole other realm. Initially, what you did was good for your neighborhood, but then you slandered the police who came to help you and some guy who "looked Hispanic." You should have quit while you were ahead.

"Continue...to float in the sea of infinite substance which set aside riches for you before you had a name." -- Maya Angelou

WITW. cobraguy, what state did u receive a high school education? And you question what's going into my body. Don't even lie and say SC. peachblossom beat me to it. I was salivating over this one. Not to get u. Just to express myself and maybe make u smile. Make the 'conservative who makes sense' smile a little. That's all.

cobraguy u say the officer asked them if they had a license and u say point blank, '...and it sounded to me as if they said "no"'. IF I REALLY CARED I'D WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT CRACKER OFFICER SAID, NOT WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE TO U. Turns out from this cheap detective book, somewhat non-fictionious, perhaps even felonious by poor eyewitness recollection, that it was either a YES or further sorting out by the officer, it turned into a YES. Unless of course some rollerblader cruised up jumped into car and drove away while maybe you were fixin some lemonade. cobraguy if you ever get a job for the gov as a detective, I will be whistling while I move to a new town.

PB: Busted? Tell me something, ma'am. Why in the world would I post something here unless I thought it to be accurate? -Especially on a blog that the Cheif of police is replying on.

The conversation I heard between the Officer and the driver (which was pretty easy for most of it, because they were in my driveway and my garage door was open) led me to believe that the person driving was an illegal alien. Words like: "Fake ID", which I assumed was the drivers license; "no insurance"; the fact that he asked the other person in the car if they were "legal" / had a license; the fact that the officer asked them if they knew anyone with a drivers lisence that could pick them up; etc.......
-What conclusion would YOU come up with after hearing all of that?

As far as Urban Legends go, let's examine some of those for a moment.......and, of course, the Chief is free to chime in here, to perhaps clear some of these up, (if he wishes).

1. Is it an urban legend that we have an illegal alien problem here?
2. Is it an urban legend that most are driving around without a drivers lisence or insurance?
3. Is it an urban legend that "some" officers will sometimes choose to turn their backs on the situation and allow them to leave (perhaps the Bluffton PD doesn't do this, but I know of some others that do). Why bother when they will be out on the street within 24 hrs anyway?
4. Is it an urban legend that, even if they are ticketed, many are allowed to simply call a "friend" that has a drivers license to come drive their car away?
5. Is it an urban legen that, even if they are arrested and taken away, they are only being arrested for "driving without a license" - which is a drop in the bucket compared to being arrested for being in a country ILLEGALLY (which is a FED deal to most local police, and out of their hands).
6. Is it an urban legend that, if they are arrested and taken away, that they are usually out within 24 hrs, released on a OR bond - or even if they have to post bail, its a small amount and they are back on our streets?
7. Is it an urban legend that, once they are released, they seldom (if ever) show up for their court date, and they go right back to driving their car, and living their lives as if nothing happened?
8. Is it an urban legend that our elected officials are doing, pretty much nothing, when it comes to solving our illegal immigration problem?
9. Is it an urban legend that PB loves to try and stick it to me whenever she gets the chance?

whether you are in the USA legally or not, doesn't have much to do with not showing up for court. And as a matter of fact, my opinion is it has nothing to do with it. The choice to show up is not the courts but the person charged. Your talking misdeameanors here. People in this country legally, they don't show up for court either. Happens 5 times a week. They are called FTAs whether you are suppose to be here or not. Cobraguy chill out, your too hung up on this people not suppose to be in the USA thing. Call DC. 1-800-1NO-GOOD.

And here we go off an a predictable rant about immigration that does not address the fact or fiction of what you originally posted. The Chief said what you described didn't happen the way you said it did. You first described the person as "illegal" and then backed off to "looked Hispanic." Busted. Now, I might have a theory about why you might take an event and embellish it until it was no longer factual, but that's not really my interest, and neither is "sticking it" to you. Don't flatter yourself. What I care about is trying to keep these blogs factual when appropriate. Consider it litter patrol.

"Continue...to float in the sea of infinite substance which set aside riches for you before you had a name." -- Maya Angelou

So, you're taking it upon yourself to "keep these blogs factual"? -Who appointed you blog patrol queen? And, by patrolling all of these blogs, WHO'S version of facts, statistic's, and history, are you basing your judgement on? -Yours?
My......that's quite the elitist attitude you have PB. -How typically left-wing-elite of you.

PB: No, I think what the Chief said was, it's his policy that his Officers don't allow people to drive away that don't have a valid drivers license. -And I respect that.

The reason I said the person "looked Hispanic" wasn't because I was "backing off" anything I previously said; it was because the Chief mentioned that there was a person who was pulled over with a suspended license, and that person WASN'T hispanic. -Thus, I was pointing out that perhaps we were talking about two seperate incidents.
The Chief also mentioned that another driver was pulled over without a SC DL and that person was allowed to have a licensed driver take them away. -Perhaps that's the person that was in my driveway and I simply didn't notice anyone being dropped off to drive the car. -Who knows....I guess it's possible.
However, if that was the case, this person wasn't effected at all by receiving a ticket (or warning - if that was the situation) because I saw them drive back thru our neighborhood a few hours later.
I'm sure not everyone that was pulled over yesterday received a ticket - or else I would think there would have been more than 18 total (I saw at least 7-8 pulled over in about 45 - 60 minutes alone).
-BTW: That wasn't more "anecdotal stuff" or "embellishment", PB. That was simply a further explaination.

No matter what the situation was, if I misrepresented what happened, I certainly didn't mean to do it on purpose. If I misinterpreted the conversation, then (like I said earlier), I certainly apologize for that. But as vocal as the Officer was about the "fake ID" (along with the other parts of the conversation I overheard) I felt my story was on fairly solid ground.

With my final comment on this blog, I would like to openly apologize to the Chief. No matter what took place, I didn't mean for this to esculate into a conversation over "poor discretion" by your Officers. I'm sure your staff works long and hard keeping the peace around here...........I know I certainly wouldn't want that job.
-Thank you again for patrolling our neighborhood this week. We certainly DO appreciate it.

Wow! It took forever to read through this one! Some great points are being made, aside from the one-to-one bashings.

Chief, thanks for taking the time to post some comments. Perhaps you should have a weekly "Ask The Chief" column in BT.

Unfortunately, there is only so much law enforcement to go around. I once asked a BCSO deputy why they don't haul off illegals for obviously being here illegally. He said they would love to, but it is a waste of time right now. If they apprehend an illegal and subsequently contact ICE on the matter, the first question from ICE is whether or not the illegal committed a felony. If it is a misdemeanor charge, they have to let the illegal go because ICE simply doesn't have the manpower or resources to deal with them for minor infractions.

I think it would be great to establish the low-cost option made up of a tent-filled, fenced and guarded "holding pen" for illegals. However, next question, which one of you wants this "facility" in YOUR backyard?

Back to the ORIGINAL point of the post, we do need a noise ordinance with some real teeth that officers can act on. Next Town Council meeting, let's all show up and tell our representatives that we want and need one.

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